Doors of Briançon

Porte de Pignerol
An ancient gateway to the town summit or Piedmont, it closes off the top of the town. It is preceded by a half-moon with a guardhouse called "d'Artagnan" which once housed the soldiers who were responsible for guarding it. Following Vauban's principles and in order to show the grandeur of the kingdom, it offers the enemy a majestic bossed decoration in the classical style composed of two pilasters and a triangular pediment.

Porte d'Embrun
An ancient gate at the foot of the town, it gives access to the lower part of the town. Like that of Pignerol, it is preceded by a half-moon with a guardhouse called "Saint-Mars", which in the past housed the soldiers who were responsible for guarding it. Two successive drawbridges improve its defence.

Porte de la Durance
Once protected by a small moat and a drawbridge, it closed the town on the Durance front. It provides access to the path leading up to the Fort des Trois Têtes. Built in ashlar, it is decorated with a set of pilasters and crenellations.
These three gates are part of the fortified complex of Briançon inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list as Vauban's Fortifications.

The other two gates:

Porte Méanne
In the Middle Ages, this gate was used to cross the defensive wall formed by the houses. It gives access to the street of the same name which leads to the middle of the town. It was restored in the 20th century during the restoration of the house it adjoins.

Porte Dauphine
Opened at the beginning of the 20th century to make access to the old town possible for cars, it reproduces the classic model of fortified town gates with a false drawbridge and ashlar decoration.